Closet-seat.



PATENTED APR. 5, 1904.

LA FAYETTE G. DOBBS.

CLOSET SEAT.

APPLIUATION FILED 001'. a, 1903.

N0 MODEL;

UNITED STATES Patented April 5, 1904.

PATENT O FICE).

" CLOSET-SEAT;

srncrmcarron forming part or Letters Patent m5. 756,599, dated April 5,1904.

Application filed October 6, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LA FAYETTE G. DOBBS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county ofCodington and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and usefulCloset-Seat, of which the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to the seats of water or dry closets, commodes,earth-closets, and the like, and has for its object to improve andsimplify devices of this character and pro duce an apparatus whereby'theopenings to the receptacle or vaults may be closed when not in use; andthe invention consists in certain novel features of construction'ashereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawing illustrative of the invention, in which correspondingparts are denoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 is a per?spective view of the device as it appears when not in use. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional elevation with the parts positioned as when notin use; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 '3 of Fig. 1,showing the parts positioned as when in use. Fig. 4 is a sectionaldetail representing a modification in the con-. struction. I

The upper portion of the dry closet, commode,earth-closet,or otherreceptacle to which the device is to be attached is represented at andmay be of any suitable sizeor material and will be, open at the upperside and preferably with an inwardly-extending rim 11 forming the marginof the opening. Hinged at 12 to one side of this opening is acloset-seat 13 of the ordinary construction and adapted when closed downto entirely cover the rim 11. Hinged at 14 15 to the side members of therim 1 1 are doormembers 16 17, adapted when closed to meet centrally ofthe opening and com pletely close it, as in Fig, 1, and when open to.hang downwardly and leave the opening entirely clear, as in Fig. 3.Connected by one end to the seat member 13 are two connecting members 1819, preferably slightly resilient and connected by their other ends,respectively, to the door members 16 17, as shown. The relative lengthsof'the members 18 19 and their position upon the members 13 Serial No.175,939, (No model.)

rearwardlywhen the seat member is open and the door members are closed,as-represented in Fig. 2, so that the seatmember will exert a strongleverage force upon the doorsto hold them tightlyclosed, while at thesame time easily releasable by a forward movement. upon the free end ofthe seat member. The member 13 will preferably be provided with a cleat20,. to which members 18 19 are attached, and

g the latter may be formed in anysuitable manner to cause them to yieldtothe pressure or strains to which they will be subjected. The seatmember 13 is formedin the usual manner with the usual aperture and willprefer ably be upholstered, as'with a detachable covering of fabric,such as flannel, asat 21, to increase, the comfort of the user. By thissimple means offensive odors are effectually prevented from escapingfrom the receptacles and cleanliness and wholesomeness ofthe'surroundings assured.

Attached, as at 22, to the upper surface of the seat member 13 are cordsor thongs 23, leading thence over elevated carriers 24 and thencedownward to the opposite ends 25 26 of a wire bail 27, the lattercarrying a weight 28, as' shown. By this means it will be obvious thatthe seat member '13 will be yieldably supported in its open position,"asin Figs. 1 and 2, soth'at when not in .usethe seat member will be.opened and'lthe closures 16 17 closed automatically topreclude the possibility of the closure-doors being accidentally left open while thecloset is not in use. The weight 28 will not be large enough to inconvenience the user of the seat, as it need be only heavy enough toover-balance the weight a of the seat, as ,will be obvious. The eleva-'tion of the carriers24 above the hinges 12 and the connection ofthefthongs 23 in ad vance of the hinges, as at 22, insures the requisitepull of the weight upon the seat. The thongs 23 may be leather orrawhide straps'or they may be chain's, cords, flexible wire, orsimilarmaterial, and one or more may be employed upon each seat; but generallytwo will be employed, as shown, one at each side with one single weight28, with the weight and hail preferably operating within the casing 10at the rear of the closure-doors 16 17, asshown, so that the weight andhail will be entirely out of sight.

Under some circumstancesa simple balanceweight may be employed, as inFig. 4, the weight operating in the rear of the closure 10 or in apocket formed therein; but I do not desire to be limited to anyparticular form of the weight mechanism and reserve the right to suchmodifications and alterations in this and other features of theconstruction as may fall within the scope of the invention and theclaims made therefor.

The parts are very simple in construction, easily applied to any of thevarious makes of receptacles, and will be found .very useful andconvenient for the purposes described.

, Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device ofthe class described, a supporting -cas ing, an apertured seat member ,myown I have hereto afixed my signature in hinged to swing from one sideof said casing,

doors forming a closure to said casing and hinged to swing below saidseat member, connecting means between said seat and doors adapted on theelevation of said seat to close said doors and on the depression of saidseat the presence into operative position to open said doors, and acounterweight connected to yieldably maintain said seat member in openposition,

- substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, a

supporting-casing, an apertured seat member hinged to swing from oneside of said casing, doors forming a closure to said casing and hingedto swing below said seat member, conheating means between said seat anddoors whereby the elevation of said seat will close said doors and thedepression of said seat into operative position will open said doors,flexible straps connected at spaced points to said seat member inadvance of its hinges, carrier members disposed in the rear ofsaid-hinges and elevated above them and providing guide means for saidstraps, abail connected by its ends to the free ends of said straps, anda weight carried by said bail, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as of two wit esses.

LA FAYETTE G. DOBBS.

- Witnessesz JOHN B. HANTEN, ELMER RICHARDSON.

